Single-crosslink microscopy in a biopolymer network dissects local elasticity from molecular fluctuations

Lingxiang Jiang (), Qingqiao Xie, Boyce Tsang and Steve Granick ()
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Lingxiang Jiang: Jinan University
Qingqiao Xie: Jinan University
Boyce Tsang: University of Illinois
Steve Granick: Institute for Basic Science (IBS)

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Polymer networks are fundamental from cellular biology to plastics technology but their intrinsic inhomogeneity is masked by the usual ensemble-averaged measurements. Here, we construct direct maps of crosslinks—symbolic depiction of spatially-distributed elements highlighting their physical features and the relationships between them—in an actin network. We selectively label crosslinks with fluorescent markers, track their thermal fluctuations, and characterize the local elasticity and cross-correlations between crosslinks. Such maps display massive heterogeneity, reveal abundant anticorrelations, and may contribute to address how local responses scale up to produce macroscopic elasticity. Single-crosslink microscopy offers a general, microscopic framework to better understand crosslinked molecular networks in undeformed or strained states.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11313-7

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